By Marney Simon | Enterprise Staff
The city of Joliet is on the hunt for a new water supply.
On June 18, members of the City Council reviewed a proposal for engineering services to explore options for new, sustainable water for the city and region.
Joliet’s water is currently drawn from 26 wells and treated at 11 water treatment plants and the city maintains 612 miles of water mains.
In 2015, the Illinois State Water Survey of the sandstone aquifers in Northern Illinois identified decreased groundwater levels, noting that the water source for Joliet’s deep wells could be depleted in 15 to 30 years.
“For that reason, it’s very critical that at this time we really study this and come to a decision on how to proceed for an alternative water source,” Allison Swisher, Acting Director of Public Works told members of the council during a pre-council meeting.
After requesting bids in the spring, city staff recommended the firm Crawford, Murphy and Tilly (CMT) to provide professional engineering services for phase one of the project. CMT’s proposal includes plans to work with two subcontractors to research river, groundwater, and Lake Michigan alternatives for the city’s water supply.
The project would be divided into multiple phases, beginning with stakeholder engagement and strategic planning, as well as water demand projections, water conservation efforts, and identification of viable alternatives.
“We really want this phase of the student to answer the question, which of these alternatives are going to be able to provide the amount of water that we need, as well as, is the water that will be provided of a quality water source,” Swisher said.
Swisher said phase one would take place during the remainder of 2018, where the city would identify water needs based on population projections and other available information.
This phase will include individual meetings with the mayor and council, public relations and the creation of a community advisory committee.
Swisher said the city is looking for a long-term solution to its water needs.
“We want to look for a 100-year solution, so that the money we’re investing into this alternative water source is not short term,” she said.
Staff has currently identified 14 possible alternative water sources, which include tapping into a deeper aquifer, aquifer storage, drawing water from river sources including the Des Plaines, Kankakee, Fox and Illinois Rivers, as well as drawing from Lake Michigan.
Mayor Bob O’Dekirk asked if the decision making could be simplified.
“We know there are about 14 different options. We need you to come back with three or four viable options, the best three, and let the public and the city council working with the public to come to a decision,” O’Dekirk said.
Other council members said discussions held over the past year have indicated that a future water supply would ultimately come down to a river source or Lake Michigan. Council members wondered if it makes sense to investigate additional options, such as groundwater, if they are not viable from the get go.
“I don’t need to interview a blind man to know that he can’t be a proofreader,” said Alderman Larry Hug.
Other members of the council were in favor of exploring all options, provided there is sufficient transparency in the process.
Staff noted that a combination of water sources may be the best option, so the city would draw its primary water from one source but have a secondary source for emergency and backup needs.
Phase one will take place January through December 2018 and will include detailed analysis of the viable options, as well as tabulate costs for construction of transmission mains.
Actual bidding of the construction projects would follow.
The council tabled the vote to award the first phase of the contract until the July 17 regular meeting.
Phase one is estimated to cost $278,700.